Life-buoy.



T. S. HEYWARD.

LIFE BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZY. I917- SHEET 1.

8414mm @wmm;

Patented Jan.

3 SHEETS zmm T. S. HEYWARD.

LIFE BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. m7.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

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, THOMAS SAVAGE HEYWARID, OF BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

[0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS SAVAGE HEY- WARD,a citizenof the United States, residing at Bluffton, in the county ofBeaufort and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Life-Buoys; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in life buoys, and has foran object to provide an improved life buoy which will hold the person ofthe wearer in an erect position in the water and will sustain the headwell above the surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedlife buoy which will form a protection for the wearer against thebuffeting of the waves and the attacks of sharks; and which will form acushion to absorb shocks and jars incident to contact with vessels,piers, rocks, or other rigid objects.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing animproved life buoy which will be-of simple construction and ofeconomical manufacture, and which will form a neat, attractive andcompact article of manufacture.

With'these and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafterdisclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a life buoy constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3'is a rear view of the improved buoy.

Fig. 4is a horizontal sectional view taken on .the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the improvedbuoy.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form of buoy shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the inventionin the ex. p nd d ondition in readiness for use Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 27, 1917.

LIFE-BUOY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 183,169.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the device collapsed; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of the life buoy.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and for the present toFigs. 1 to 4, the improved life buoy is shown to be made up of anelliptical base ring 1, a circular neck ring 2, and a cap piece 3,horizontally spaced apart and held together by a rear column 4 and apair of front posts 5 and 6.

The elliptical shape of the base ring 1, with the flattened front andrear portions, affords free movement to the arms of a swimmer, andpermits one to propel himself at a rapid rate through the water withoutsubstantial interference from the adjacent parts of the buoy. Theseflattened portions of the base ring 1 offer a minimum of resistance tothe passage of the body through the water.

Depending from this base ring 1 are shown a series of eyes 7 providedfor the attachment of straps for holding a waterproof garment or cage toreceive and inclose the lower part of the body and legs of the wearer.This base ring 1 is designed tofit about the trunk of the body andbeneath the arms, which are extended out between the base ring and neckring 2. The intermediate ring 2 will be of the required size and shapeto fit about the neck of the wearer and to support the headin an erectposition, with the effect of forming a pillow or support which willsustain faint or sleeping persons. Above the intermediate neck ring 2the cap piece 3 is formed with an inner cavity 8 of a shape to fit thetop of the head of the wearer, in which position said cap piece 3 willsupply an excellent protection.

This improved protector may be con structed of cork or other solidbuoyant material; but where it is manufactured of hollow collapsiblematerial, such as rubber, it will be provided with an inlet valve 9through which air may be introduced to inflate the same. The hollow formis the one here illustrated, as will be seen by more particularreference to Fig 4, and in such case the rings 1 and 2, cap piece 3,column 4, and posts 5 and 6 combine to furnish commumeating chamberscontaining fluid under pres sure, which has a highly efiective sustalmngpower when placed in the water.

' t will be obvi that f desirab f ii i) shield with goggles may beattached to the cap piece 3 or other part of the buoy, to pro tect thewearer from the elements and at the same time permit him to observe hissurroundings.

Referring more particularly to the modified form of the invention shownin Figs. 5 and 6, the buoy is, in this instance, made up of acollapsible material adapted to fold down flat, so as to make a neat andcompact package, and which dispenses with the cap piece. In this form ofthe invention the base ring or body sustaining member 1-O- may be ofsubstantially the shape of the base ring 1, shown in Figs, 1 to 1, butis divided, as indicated at 11, to permit of opening out to receive thebody of the wearer. This divided part 11 is connected together by thestrap 12 engaging through the buckle 13 held on the strap 14-; althoughother means may be provided for this purpose. It is obvious that thebase ring 1, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4;, may also be divided inthis manner, and may be attached by the buckle and strap, or othersuitable means.

The neck ring 15 is formed in one piece with the base ring 10, therebeing openings 16 in any suitable number cut out of the material betweensaid base ring and neck to receive the arms of the wearer. Theseopenings 16 are separated by posts 17 which form communicating channelsbetween the base ring 10 and neck ring 15. The device is inflatedthrough the valve stem 18. 7

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, 20designates the body-encircling ring and 21 the neck-engaging ring,which, in this instance, may be of solid buoyant material, and such thatthe upper neck ring 21 may be allowed'to descend within the largerbody-encircling ring 20, for which see Fig. 8. y Y

.For.the purpose of allowing a tree movement of the rings 20 and :21, tofacilitate their collapse and expansion, they are connected by flexiblestrips 22,0f canvas or other appropriate material.

In the collapsed condition disclosed in Fig. 8, the lite buoy is readilyportable, and occupies an exceedingly small compass, which willrecommend it for packing and tl'lllSPOltZtthlll.

Coming finally to Fig, 9 of the d 'awings, the neck ring 25, *ap piece26,1'earpillar 2 7, and posts 28 and '29 are all of a construc- .tionsimilar to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to a ofthepresent drawings, and hereinbefore more fully described.

This n'iodification of the invention, however, differs from that formshown in Figs. 1 to -1- in dispensing with the particular constructionof the body ring and substituting therefor a pair of slings 31 and 3-2,which depend from the neck ring '25 in a position to receive the arms ofthe wearer, which are thrust between the branches of such slings. Theseslings 31 and 32 arepreferably joined at their lower ends by a belt orstrap 33, which passes about the chest of the wearer and forms aconvenient means by which the device is prevented from becoming detachedfrom the person of the wearer. I

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstructon and arrangements of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention, and therefore 1 do not wish to be limited to suchfeatures except as may be required by the claims.

I claim;

1. A life buoy including a body engaging member, a cap piece, a rearpillar connected between said body engag1ng member and cap piece, andposts also connected between said cap piece and body engaging member,substantially as described.

A life buoy comprising a body engaging member, a head support ng member,a cap p1ece,,a rear column holding sald head supporting member and cappiece in spaced 1- relation from each other andtrom said body engagingmember, and front posts connected between said members and cap piece,snbstantially as described.

.3. A life buoy comprising a base ring adapted to fit about the body, aneck ring above said base ring and adapted to surround the neck of thewearer and support the head, and a cap piece above'said. neck ringhaving a cavity for receivingth upper part of the head, substantially asdescribed.

at. A life buoy including a base ring, a neck ring, a cap piece,andvconnections between said cap piece, neck ring, and base ring, saidparts being constructed of hollow inflatable material adapted to receivea buoyantfluid,- substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afli x my signature.

TI-IOMASSAVAGE HEYWARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vfive cents each, byaddressing the .Qomniissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. a i

